(Līhuʻe) – On Sunday September 8, 2019 at the King Kaumualiʻi Elementary School Cafeteria with the help of Kaua’i County Council Member Cowden, the DLNR Kaua’i Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) held an informational meeting regarding the timeline and plan for the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve Loop Road repair work. It was a great opportunity to hear the community interest and hopes for this area. DOFAW Kaua’i wishes to work better with open communication so that our actions in the future will help create a positive space for the community and future generations to enjoy.

After listening to concerns and comments, DOFAW will begin to start repairs of Loop Road. In the next couple weeks, contractors will begin preparing a staging area for material and equipment off Kuamoʻo Road. On September 30, 2019, road repairs will begin, and a gate will be installed just after the powerline trail on Loop Road.

The major concern during the period of road repair work is the safety of the public and the contractors. Therefore, the gate will remain closed from Monday to Friday during the construction period. We understand the relationship that the community has with the area and agree it would be beneficial to have the road open on the weekends for the public. However, during the construction period, if there is vandalism or destruction to newly repaired sections, DOFAW will have to close the gate on weekends as to not hinder the progress of the repairs.

DOFAW will regularly communicate with the community on the Loop road repair status and will try to complete repairs as soon as possible.

LAND MANAGERS, BIOLOGISTS & LAW ENFORCEMENT CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN IMPACTS ON RARE PLANTS & ANIMALS DUE TO CONTINUING PROTEST

(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is investigating the possible destruction of four, endangered Hawaiian ʻānunu vines in the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve on the backside of Pu‘u Huluhulu. This is where thousands of protesters have been illegally blocking Mauna Kea Access Road since mid-July. In addition to the alleged cutting of these vines, DOCARE officers found evidence that other rare plants have been trampled, either inadvertently or intentionally.

“The destruction of the ʻānunu vine is particularly disturbing, since there may be only five populations of this species still in existence,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case. ʻĀnunu is federally listed as an endangered plant and under the Hawai‘i Natural Heritage Ranking it is considered critically imperiled.

Rare and endangered plants were out-planted on State Land by natural resource teams from federal agencies which manage threatened and endangered species in the area. The ʻānunu vine is naturally occurring, but the restoration efforts help it to thrive. The damaged vines were not cut in the out-planting section but one other threatened or endangered species of imperiled plants were stepped on there. Federal officials are also concerned about access to national wildlife refuge and the potential impacts to endangered Hawaiian goose (nēnē) management efforts as the breeding season begins.

While protest leaders have taken steps to restrict access to the top of Pu‘u Huluhulu cinder cone, DOCARE estimates as many as 2,400 people have been around Pu‘u Huluhulu at any given time, for the past seven weeks. DOCARE Officer Edwin Shishido and another officer hiked to the out-planting area on August 21st and discovered that four ʻānunu vines appeared to have been cut or ripped from koa trees.

“An unmarked, ‘social’ trail led into the area, and two other federally and state listed endangered plants were laying across the trail indicating they’d been recently trampled,” Shishido said. The plants appear to have recovered.

“This area of Pu‘u Huluhulu was specifically set aside to propagate these native Hawaiian plants,” explained Lyman Perry, a botanist with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). “It’s difficult to establish a viable population of these extremely rare plants, to keep them from facing extinction, so the PTA out-planting area was picked for the very reason that it saw little to no human impact,” Perry added.

In addition to negative impacts to plants from thousands of people being in the area, there’s evidence that just the sheer number of people is adversely impacting animals and insects.

Ian Cole, DOFAW’s East Hawai‘i Wildlife Manager said there are anecdotal reports that Hawai‘i’s State Bird, the nēnē, are avoiding the immediate area around the protest site. Cole explained, “We have reports that nēnē are avoiding landing around Mauna Kea Access Road and Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). It’s not surprising that they’re looking for different foraging areas…there are too many people around for their comfort. This area was likely one of their flyway resting areas.”

Even the smallest of creatures are potentially being impacted by the nearly two-month long protest action. Entomologists report that the endemic Hawaiian wolf spider, which inhabits the area’s lava fields, is possibly being forced out of its natural habitat due to the large number of people camping and walking in the area. Previously researchers noted that the spider moved away from the location of a hale built by protesters at Halepōhaku, about six miles from the current protest location. They recorded a decline in the number of spiders and an increase in invasive insects.

Chair Case remarked, “Early on in this protest we warned about potential impacts to endangered species from off-trail activities. Intentional or not, it’s happening, and it’s very concerning. You just can’t have thousands of people in sensitive natural areas like Puʻu Huluhulu without this kind of harm resulting. DLNR’s mission is to protect these species, and our staff is passionate about doing so, and it’s sad to see this now.”

(Honolulu) – The severe and widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is already occurring along reefs across the state.

Last week, a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted a rapid assessment of coral health at Molokini and along Maui’s south shore from Makena to Maalaea.

Russell Sparks, a DAR Aquatic Biologist reported, “Molokini is composed of high percentages of the coral species, Montipora capitata, and we found roughly 50% of this coral already bleached or paling heavily.” The team found in waters off Makena, Wailea, and Kihei the percentage of corals showing bleaching currently at less than 10%. Sparks said that reefs in dirty water (closer to shore at Kalama Park and other areas in North Kihei) are doing better than in similar areas with cleaner water. This may be due to the shading effect of dirty water reducing some of the stress from direct sunlight on these corals. At Olowalu, routine monitoring in August did detect numerous Porities corals bleached and overgrown with turf algae.

Dr. Jamison Gove, a NOAA Research Oceanographer said, “Ocean temperatures remain well above average across much of the state. Areas along West Hawai‘i and Maui Nui are especially warm, as much as 3 – 3.5°F above typical summertime temperatures. Warm ocean temperatures are expected to persist in the coming weeks, likely worsening the coral bleaching that has recently been observed across the islands.”

NOAA, DAR and the Arizona State University Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science (ASU-GDCS) have joined forces to collaborate on coral reef science, conservation, and management in Hawai‘i. One of the outcomes of this partnership is the creation of a coral bleaching alert card, which depicts six, simple steps people can take to reduce any additional stress on corals during the current bleaching event.

Dr. Greg Asner, the Director of ASU-GDCS commented, “My team has partnered with DAR and NOAA as a technical source for advanced aircraft and satellite monitoring of reefs throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. We launched the website, www.hawaiicoral.org to provide a simple, but advanced platform that integrates coral observations made by residents and visitors with observations made from the air and Earth orbit. The outcome is a real-time monitoring system that informs citizens as fast as scientists are getting data. Together, we can not only monitor this terrible bleaching event, but also work to reduce secondary stress on the most impacted reefs. After the heatwave ends, we will have a good map with which to plan restoration efforts.”

(Honolulu) – Fee increases for users of Hawai‘i small boat harbors and boating facilities will be implemented soon, after they were signed into law by Governor David Ige on August 13, 2019.

“Our goal was to set fees that are fair according to use,” said Ed Underwood, Administrator for DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). “DOBOR is only allowed to collect fees to pay for expenses of operating, maintaining, and managing our facilities. The revenues from the fee increases over time will help to reduce the significant backlog of deferred maintenance so we can make our harbors safe and appealing once again.”

“The new rates are still very competitive when compared to both public and private mooring rates elsewhere in the State,” Underwood noted.

DOBOR last implemented a comprehensive set of fee increases in 1994. The changes were made possible through rule amendments in compliance with statute that update slip fees for DLNR harbors, price of electricity, shower access, dry storage, vessel registration, and numerous other fees associated with vessel operation and use of boating facilities in Hawai‘i. By statute, slip fees for mooring a vessel are now being set by appraisal, as determined by a third-party appraiser.

Protection of Hawai‘i’s limited natural resources is reflected in certain amendments in the new rule package. For example, fresh water may now only be used for specific activities related to boating. Boat launch ramp fees will no longer cover the use of fresh water at boat and trailer washdown facilities. “Last fiscal year, DOBOR paid $1,074,000 out of the Boating Special Fund for water. We have 25 boating facilities statewide. The water bills for 15 of these facilities exceeded $20,000, including 3 facilities where water bills exceeded $100,000. Our water bill for the Wai‘anae small boat harbor alone was more than $400,000,” Underwood stated.

“To help us conserve water, boaters should only use one hose bib at a time while using the washdowns and keep their time limited to a maximum of 15 minutes. They should also use spring-loaded nozzles on hoses to prevent water just running and being wasted,” Underwood commented. “We plan to initiate outreach on water conservation needs, but in the future if we do not see a reduction in water consumption and unauthorized use continues, we will have to institute tighter controls, including a metered usage fee or even shutting water off at washdowns in extreme cases. A washdown shutoff at even one facility could save millions of gallons of drinkable water each year.”

“As responsible stewards we have to do everything possible to conserve our limited natural resources. Our fresh water supply is being depleted faster than it can be replenished. Conservation is everyone’s responsibility,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.

Another major change is the fee for Commercial Use Permits (CUPs), required of anyone using state waters for profit. Monthly CUP fees will increase from the greater of $200 per month or 3% of a company’s monthly gross revenues to the greater of $300 per month or 3% of monthly gross revenues. The CUP system has enabled DOBOR to successfully identify and track numbers and places where legitimate commercial operators charge for excursions, lessons, and tours in State waters.

Underwood concluded, “We need to employ different strategies to solve the backlog of deferred maintenance and to improve the overall health of our harbor system. These fee increases are part of that strategy.”

The fee increase amendment package is posted online, where readers can view old and new versions side-by-side.

(Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area) – 45 women, mostly from Hawai‘i, spent the last few days being schooled in outdoor skills during the first-ever “Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW)” retreat in Hawai’i. This is the Aloha State’s initial foray into a 20-year-old international program that sponsors skill-development weekends in 41 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven other countries.

Andrew Choy, DLNR’s Hunter Education Coordinator led a team of twenty instructors, trip-leaders, drivers, observers and cooks, with the collective purpose of making certain the newly learned outdoor women had rich and rewarding experiences.

They succeeded, according to participant Kathy Camp of O’ahu. Saturday, on the second day of BOW, standing far below Mauna Kea, preparing to go on a trail ride, Camp remarked, “This has far exceeded my expectations. The company is great and one of the appeals for me was to meet new friends – like-minded women but all with a variety of reasons for signing up.” She looked forward to practicing newly acquired rifle and handgun skills after going through a firearm safety and handling class on Friday. She hopes to improve her shooting skills to show her husband she can actually hit clay targets while skeet shooting. “He’s not a great teacher,” Camp joked, “so with my new-found skills maybe I can beat him?”

Choy says the BOW concept was born out of studies two decades ago that showed sharp declines in women’s interest in outdoor sports. While hunting and fishing related skills make up 2/3rds of the curriculum, the other third is dedicated to non-harvest or non-consumptive outdoor pursuits like camping, kayaking, hiking and backpacking. “The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program,” he said, “is one of the reasons adult women are the only demographic group showing growth in fishing and shooting sports.”

Becoming an Outdoors Woman is a non-profit headquartered at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point. Two trainers from the BOW international office observed this first retreat and one of them, Kelly Van Laanen, commented, “That despite having to deal with far-flung venues on the Big Island, they did a great job and will learn from any minor hiccups.”

Home base for the weekend was the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area but other venues included the Dahana Ranch near Waimea (horseback riding), Camp Honokaia at Honoka’a (beginning rifle & handgun), Kealakekua Bay (kayaking) and Hilo for fishing.

In addition to the Hawai‘i women who attended, a woman from Texas and two sisters from New Mexico joined the fun. Catherine Matthews and her sister from Las Cruces, NM joined their younger sister from Honolulu to celebrate her 50th birthday. When they were younger they enjoyed family camping and hiking trips, but then as Matthews described, “life gets in the way.” This was not only a chance to celebrate a birthday, but to embrace the kind of independence that outdoor skills provide. Catherine says a course on canning and making jerky is one that she’ll be able to use immediately, along with a first-aid course. She echoed the other Catherine’s reaction, saying, “This is a great group of women and it’s been so much fun getting to know them.”

The Hawai‘i Becoming an Outdoors Woman team will analyze what worked well and what didn’t in preparation for the program’s expected return in 2020. DLNR will publicize application dates.

(Līhuʻe) – In April 2018, severe floods caused serious damage to the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve and the road that runs through it, Loop Road, leaving it dangerous to the community. The DLNR Kaua’i Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will provide an update on the status and timeline for the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve Loop Road restoration.

On Sunday September 8, 2019 from 3:00pm-5:00pm at the King Kaumualii Elementary School Cafeteria on 4380 Hanamaulu Road in Līhu‘e, Kaua’i. DOFAW staff will provide information and answer questions to the community about what the plans are to start repairing Loop Road.

(Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park) – This holiday weekend, fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore joined forces with a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to try and remove invasive Black Chin Tilapia from Nu‘alolo Bay here.

Over the past few weeks, anglers have reported the presence of thousands of tilapia in the shallow waters of the bay and this was confirmed by the DAR team, who initially collected some fish for biological sampling. It is believed the Black Chin Tilapia was introduced into Hawai‘i as a bait fish back in 1962, though an alternate theory has them being introduced around the same time to control aquatic weeds. On O‘ahu it is the most common tilapia species and is also documented on Hawai‘i Island.

Using a combination of surround nets and throw nets under a State Special Activities Permit, more than a dozen fishermen and the DAR team, worked all day Saturday and into the night to try and remove as many of the wily fish as possible. Several volunteers commented, “they’re smart buggers.” As soon as they were trapped by a net many of the tilapia found openings and escaped. Ka‘ili Shayler of DAR led the weekend efforts, which included another full day of netting on Sunday, and said, “We removed about 300 tilapia. We tried different tactics and what seemed to work best was using throw nets at night during low-tide.” Previously, fishermen had removed an estimated 1000 fish on their own.

Tilapia reproduce fast and DAR biologists say this means they out-compete other species (including native fish), and then often suffer massive die-offs. They’re considered pests in estuaries, canals and reservoirs, and though tilapia is largely considered a fresh-water fish, the Black Chin is known to be more tolerant to salt water and can spawn in salinities of up to 35 parts per million. It’s thought the tilapia that have invaded Nu‘alolo and other areas along the Nāpali Coast were washed down irrigation canals on the island’s west side and into the ocean during rain storms.

Shayler and his colleagues are really appreciative of the help from the local community. He said, “It’s awesome for these folks to give up their Labor Day weekend with their friends and family to come to this pretty remote location to help and try to remove these fish. Fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore don’t often get to interact, so that was a real bonus of the weekend’s operation.”

The special activities permit allows the use of small-mesh nets for removing tilapia all around Kaua‘i. DAR staff are encouraging anglers to continue catching them and are also researching funding to do DNA tracking of the fish to better pinpoint where they came from. It’s hoped when winter arrives and north shore swells push them out to sea, predators can more easily get to them.

While they are considered highly invasive and have a bad stigma, tilapia is considered both a good fish to eat and good as a bait fish. Shayler concluded, “This invasion gives us a chance to perhaps change what people think about them as a food source. People aren’t used to eating them, but you often see frozen, farm-raised tilapia being sold in stores, so clearly, they are considered a good fish to eat. We want people to feel free to catch and use as many as they can. Those efforts can’t hurt in helping to rid them from places like the Nāpali Coast.”

]]>08/29/19-AGGRESSIVE FORM OF RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH FOUND IN TWO ADDITIONAL KAUA‘I LOCATIONShttp://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2019/08/29/nr19-157/
Thu, 29 Aug 2019 23:59:17 +0000http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/?p=18176DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCESNews Release

DAVID Y. IGEGOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release: August 29, 2019

AGGRESSIVE FORM OF RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH FOUND IN TWO ADDITIONAL KAUA‘I LOCATIONS

(Līhu‘e) – Recent helicopter surveys prompted foresters with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to sample 10 dead ‘ōhi‘a in two locations within the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve. Six trees tested positive for Ceratocystis lukuohia, the more virulent of the two fungal pathogens causing Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death, the disease killing ‘ōhi‘a across the state.

Late in 2018, the Kaua‘i Rapid Response Team, made up of scientists and managers from county, state, federal, and non-governmental agencies, reported the presence of C. lukuohia on a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands parcel behind Kalalea Mountain in Anahola. A total of 22 trees in three separate locations across Kaua‘i have now tested positive for this more virulent species of the two fungi that cause Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death.

“The lukuohia species is much more aggressive than the huliohia species,” said Sheri S. Mann, DOFAW Kauai Branch Manager. “It is very important to do all we can not to accidentally spread the pathogen around on our vehicles, boots, and clothes.”

Since the disease was identified on Hawai‘i Island in 2014, more than a million trees have died —with more than 90 percent of those testing positive for C. lukuohia. On Kaua‘i, the number of trees that have tested positive for C. lukuohia is much lower than on Hawai‘i Island. The six most recent are located in the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve—five near the Kalāheo-Lāwai section and one in the Wailua section of the forest reserve. The dead ‘ōhi‘a in upper Wailua is located along Powerline Trail. Both places are fairly accessible, so experts are asking for people’s help in containing the disease.

“These deadly microscopic fungal pathogens can be moved around the island in mud,” said Tiffani Keanini, project manager of the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee (KISC). “Theoretically, all it takes is one spore to infect an ‘ōhi‘a tree. So, we’re stressing bio-sanitation practices. Basically, leave mud where you found it. That may be easier said than done, but every little bit helps.”

Boot brushes have been installed at numerous trailheads around the island. While supplies last, KISC is also giving away bio-sanitation kits. Anyone interested in getting one should email saveohia@hawaii.edu or call 808-821-1490. Each kit contains a boot brush, bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and educational literature. This bio-sanitation video provides a demonstration of these simple decontamination practices.

‘Ōhi‘a is the most common tree in our native forest, and it’s absolutely vital to our forest ecosystem and watershed. Mann added.

“The effort to save ‘ōhi‘a on Kaua‘i is a statewide one. After the positive test results of these six additional trees came back from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARC) in Hilo, high-resolution aerial imagery of the areas was obtained by the UH Hilo Department of Geography SDAV Lab. DOFAW and KISC have scheduled an on-the-ground sampling effort the second week of September. A crew of 12 to 15 trained technicians will sample additional suspect trees. Six experts from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and one from Hawai‘i Island DOFAW will join us. The more we know about where this pathogen is and how it is moving, the more we can do to slow it down or maybe even stop it.”

Local residents can expect to see helicopters flying in and out of the affected areas during the survey week.

Two species of fungal pathogens result in the rapid killing of ‘ōhi‘a trees. The other pathogen resulting in ROD, Ceratocystis huliohia (the lesser virulent) was first detected on Kaua‘i in May 2018. Genetic testing suggests it may have been present on the island at undetectable levels for several decades.

In early 2018, the two different species of fungi that cause Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death were described as C. huliohia and C. lukuohia. Both species are new to science. The difference between the two pathogens is how they move through the tree and how quickly they kill.

Since it was first detected on Kauai in 2018, 141 trees have been sampled. Of those, 22 have tested positive for C. lukuohia and 37 for C. huliohia.

“The pathogen enters the tree through a wound, be it a broken limb, twig or perhaps, a scuffed up exposed root. Whereas C. huliohia may take months to years to kill an ʻōhiʻa tree, C. lukuohia can kill a tree within weeks,” said James B. Friday, the extension forester with the University of Hawai‘i.

ʻŌhi‘a die for many reasons, although symptoms consistent with Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death include the sudden browning of leaves on limbs or the entire crowns of trees. The fungus is not visible on the leaves or the bark but grows in the sapwood just below the bark and impacts the flow of water in the tree.

As there is no known cure, experts encourage these practices:

1) Avoid injuring ʻōhiʻa. Wounds serve as entry points for the fungus and increase the odds that the tree will become infected and die. Avoid pruning and contact with heavy equipment wherever possible. Avoid cutting new trails in ‘ōhi‘a forests and stepping on their roots.

2) Clean gear and tools, including shoes and clothes, before and after entering the forest and areas where ʻōhiʻa may be present. Brush all soil off tools and gear, then spray with 70% rubbing alcohol. Wash clothes with hot water and soap and, if possible, dry on the high heat setting in the dryer.

3) Wash your vehicle with a high-pressure hose or washer if you’ve been off-roading or have picked up mud from driving. Clean all soil off tires–including mountain bikes and motorcycles–and vehicle undercarriage, preferably with soap and water.

4) Don’t move ʻōhiʻa wood or ʻōhiʻa parts, including adjacent soil. The disease can be spread to new areas by moving plants, plant parts, and wood from infected areas to non-infected areas.

5) Keep your eyes open. If you see ʻōhiʻa with a limb or crown turning brown, take a picture and send it to KISC via email (saveohia@hawaii.edu) or phone (808-821-1490) and describe exactly where you saw the tree. Samples of the wood must be taken by trained technicians and tested in a laboratory to confirm the presence of the ROD fungi.

To learn more about Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, visit rapidohiadeath.org and/or email saveohia@hawaii.edu and request to be added to the Kaua‘i quarterly newsletter—‘Ōhi‘a: Tree of Life.

(HONOLULU) – Exploring Hawai‘i’s diverse forest industry and connecting to any of the hundreds of businesses passionately involved with wood is now just a click away. The Hawai‘i Wood Utilization Team (HWUT) is launching the Hawai‘i Wood Products Directory. It’s an online search engine designed to highlight and connect the state’s wood industry while making it accessible and transparent to interested consumers.

HWUT is a group of experts initiating innovative, cross-sector ideas and projects to expand wood product markets in Hawai‘i. It includes members from forestry, architecture, design, engineering, wood products, construction, finance, marketing, research and Hawaiian cultural practices.

The Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association (HFIA), a team member, spearheaded the development of the directory and the website. Michael Tam, CEO of Martin & MacArthur and HFIA Board Member, represents HFIA on the team. He stressed, “This directory is a valuable resource for Hawai‘i’s governments, businesses and people in the forest products industry. It connects buyers and sellers of a variety of wood products and services.”

Companies that are not listed are encouraged to sign up. Creating a profile is free and takes only a few minutes. John Heideman, President of the Hawai‘i Lumber Products Association (HLPA), another member of the team, points out, “Through HWUT’s multiple-association membership directory, both consumers and cross-genre members will have tremendous access to the broader scope of resources within and surrounding our industry. HLPA has been dedicated to the promotion and education of wood and lumber use since 2004 and we look forward to a long-term relationship with HWUT and their members providing us all the ability to reach across different genres of our industry to better serve our community.”

Businesses listed in the directory have the additional advantage of being notified when wood-related opportunities statewide become available such as timber sales and requests for proposals by the state, HFIA and others.

Other HWUT projects currently include a partnership with the Albizia Project to design and build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) prototype and design an education center on Kaua‘i that will utilize locally-grown wood resources. Joseph Valenti, HWUT Director commented, “We want to inspire and educate the design and construction industry with innovative and traditional applications for building with wood. These demonstrations aim to inform the community of the opportunities and advantages of utilizing our forest resources.”

The directory and the other HWUT projects were made possible by funding from the USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations grant. The program aims to expand wood products and biomass markets. A collaboration with DLNR, HFIA, the Albizia Project, and HLPA led to a proposal that was awarded the state’s first grant from the highly competitive national program. Out of 119 proposals, Hawai‘i’s was one of 34 projects selected. The goals of the effort are to facilitate and coordinate new and innovative approaches for the use of locally‐grown wood; reduce the risks of wildfires; analyze resource and market conditions for local woods; and increase the visibility and demand for Hawai‘i‐grown wood products.

David Smith, Administrator of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and an avid wood enthusiast, stated, “We’re excited to see Hawai‘i’s diverse wood industry come together and collaborate on innovative projects that highlight the industry’s significance and promote the sustainable use of our local resources. DOFAW is proud to provide leadership and support for this effort.”

Governor Ige reappoints Buck to Commission on Water Resource Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 27, 2019

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has reappointed Michael G. Buck to serve as a member of the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). Buck’s appointment is effective immediately, and, if approved by the Senate, will end on June 30, 2023. Buck has served on the commission since 2014.

Buck has held a wide variety of leadership roles during the past 40 years, with more than 25 years of experience with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). In addition to serving as the administrator for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) from 1989 to 2004, he also held positions as coordinator for the Natural Area Reserves system and as a resource survey forester.

Buck has been Chairman of the Council of Western State Foresters, served on the Board of Directors of the Western Forest Leadership Coalition and been a Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee Member.

Previously he served as a four-time member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Forum on Forests and developed management plans and operational capacity for Hawaiʻi’s Natural Area Reserve Systems. Buck has extensive knowledge of federal and State of Hawai‘i environmental and natural resource laws and regulations.

He drafted and led multi-constituent support for the passage of major federal and state legislation such as the Hawai‘i Tropical Forest Recovery Act, Endangered Species Recovery Act, and the Invasive Species Council.

For over 20 years he has served as the Sustainable Forests Representative for the National Association of State Foresters and since 2015 with the Hawai‘i Fresh Water Council of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

Buck holds an undergraduate degree in Resources Management from the School of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, State University of New York and a master’s in science from the University of Florida in Forest Resources Conservation.

Buck has a farm in Waimanalo where he currently lives and works as a farmer.

“I am honored that the governor has reappointed me to the Water Commission. Hawai‘i’s water laws and its forested watersheds protect our public trust and our fresh water. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Commissioners to facilitate further progress in these areas,” said Buck.